Chapter 1

From the best historical information we have available, Julia Ann was born in Cork County, Ireland on the 16th of August, 1809 to Thomas Henry Carroll and his wife Margaret for whom we have no surname. The place of her birth has not been confirmed, but family history and her obituary give us to believe that her parents with their family emigrated to the New World after she was born. The name Carroll is a most common name, not only in Ireland, but also in America as is evidenced by the states of Carolina. When they came, and how they made their way to Upper Canada, and why has not yet been ascertained. We have no record of her childhood or growing-up years.

At some time prior to 1830, we believe she married Carl or Karl Boring of whom we have very little information, but on the 11th of June, 1830, a son was born to them whom they named William Francis Boring, of whom we will hear later. William Francis had a brother named Henry Boring. Whether Henry was younger or older we do not know, but have reason to believe that he may have been an older brother to William Francis. Whether Carl Boring, the father died or befell some other fate, we have no information.

We do have reason to believe that she met and married Frederick John Levi in about 1832 in Gosfield or Mersea township, Essex County, Ontario, Upper Canada. As we will see from the available history of Frederick John, we do not know for certain where he was born, but we can place him in that area as early as 1820.

Their first son, David was born in Gosfield as was their first daughter, Mary Ann. Though they had at least two parcels of land in the area, and though both were in Gosfield before the creation of the Mersea township, it is believed that their residence was on part of Lot 8 near Ruthven Post Office and their 200 acre farm was about 6 or 7 miles to the East, between Leamington Post Office and Wheatley. It was clearly a farming community, and a very beautiful farming area. I assume Julia Ann was busy taking care of the children, probably four in number, while Frederick John was busy clearing the land. It may be however, that she would at times take the children into the fields and assist in the clearing of the land, at times resting among the yet uncleared trees. Their home was undoubtedly of the customary style, log home.

Pioneering on the Upper Canadian frontier was not a life of leisure, but they were young and ambitious. Land was being opened up, especially for the growing of grain which was much in demand, both in the United States and Europe. Most of all crops grew well there as the soil and climatic conditions were good. Crops were generally good and prices acceptable. Their stay on the farm was for some reason cut short. It may have been farming conditions, weather conditions, or for personal reasons that they sold their farm in 1836 and thereafter moved to Toronto where they went into the clothing or mercantile business.

As from the beginning of settlement in the New World and more especially on the Canadian Frontier, there were troubles between the French and the British and not to be forgotten the settlers of the young country, the United States. Also an important ingredient of the mixture of peoples and nations causing problems and dissent were the Indians whose lands bere being granted by the Crown to the new settlers. At that time Essex Couny was not a model of political harmony. After the War of 1812, "The Peace of 1815 found Canada in the same position as before the war - she had lost nothing, had shown that she was not as defenseless as was supposed, and secured the confidence and attention of Great Britain. From 1815 to 1837, a strong bond of friendship prevailed among the peaceable inhabitants generally, engendered and fostered no doubt by the by the difficulties, hardships, and privations surrounding them in the new country. Those were the days when every man's word was as good as his bond and crimes were seldom heard of. There were those, however, who rightly or wrongly, kept up a constant agitation against the administration of the "Family Compact", and led by Papineau in the East, and Mackenzie in the West, they broke into open revolt and were quickly forced to flee into the United States. Here all sorts of adventurers joined their banners until in 1837-1838 the Militia was called upon to defend the country and the Essex frontier was once more the scene of hostilities.